Latest news with #GoldenDish
IOL News
18-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Potato supply in South Africa: What a Cape Town restaurant's Instagram post got wrong
Golden Dish announced menu changes due to 'nationwide shortage of potatoes', but was that really the case? Image: File On a typical afternoon in Cape Town, well known restaurant Golden Dish would be bustling with patrons indulging in its famous potato-based delights. However, when the management announced significant changes to their potato offerings due to a supposed nationwide shortage, their loyal customers were thrown into a stew of uncertainty. The restaurant's hasty Instagram statement, which has since been deleted, warned diners of limited availability of the starchy goodness from the earth and potential price increases due to escalating ingredient costs, including potatoes and meat. Golden dish announced that there will be changes due to what it called a nationwide outage. Image: Instagram Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Amid the uncertainty, agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo took to IOL to calm Capetonians' fears. "There is no shortage of potatoes in South Africa. Our supplies are healthy," he affirmed. This sentiment obviously resonates with Potatoes SA, which is equally confident in the nation's potato supply. Latest data showing potato stocks in various fresh produce markets. Image: Supplied Indeed, the latest statistics reveal that potato stocks across various fresh produce markets are remaining robust, countering the initial concerns voiced by the Golden Dish management. Last August to October, South Africa faced similar murmurs of a potato shortage when consumers witnessed a surge in prices. Yet, Sihlobo explained that earlier supply reductions were marginal and temporary, driven by panic rather than legitimate scarcity. This phenomenon mirrors a global trend; despite potato prices occasionally fluctuating, the overall supply remains stable. In stark contrast to many regions around the world, South Africa enjoys the unique advantage of several potato seasons throughout the year, facilitated by production across 16 distinct regions. This ensures an uninterrupted supply of potatoes year-round, dramatically reducing the likelihood of prolonged shortages. Furthermore, Potatoes SA reassured consumers that the recent heatwaves across the country should not cause concern regarding supply, asserting that the disruptive panic often leads to trade complications and inflated prices. While it's customary for potato supply to dip between April and August—largely because about 80% of the nation's potatoes are sourced from Limpopo—those worried about insufficient stock should take note of the healthy production cycle. Potatoes, recognised as one of the five primary food crops globally, are cultivated on average across 51,572 hectares in South Africa, yielding over 107 million 10kg bags sold within fresh produce markets each year. Current data shows that the average per capita potato consumption in the country stands at 37kg, with goals set to elevate that figure to over 40kg in the foreseeable future. In spite of the Golden Dish post, South Africans can rest assured that there is no need to panic. The country's resilient agricultural structure ensures that the potato supply remains reliable, despite the occasional hiccup in communication. As the situation unfolds, both the restaurant and its patrons hope for clarity and stability in the world of potatoes, a staple that has captured the essence of countless home-cooked meals and beloved restaurant dishes alike. DAILY NEWS
IOL News
17-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Is South Africa facing a potato drought? Changes to Golden Dish's menu explained
Capetonians were taken aback on Tuesday afternoon when the beloved and renowned Golden Dish announced significant changes to their potato-based offerings. In a public statement, the management explained, "Due to a nationwide shortage of potatoes, you may notice limited availability or changes to our usual potato offerings. We understand this may be an inconvenience, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this issue with our suppliers." But what exactly is happening? Are we facing a genuine potato shortage? Agricultural economist, Wandile Sihlobo, confirmed to IOL that South Africans don't have anything to worry about. "There is no shortage of potatoes in South Africa. Our supplies are healthy," said Sihlobo, adding that Potatoes SA agrees with the view. According to the latest statistics, potato stocks in various fresh produce markets indicate it's still in good shape.
IOL News
17-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Golden Dish's menu changes: Is South Africa really facing a potato shortage?
Capetonians were taken aback on Tuesday afternoon when the beloved and renowned Golden Dish announced significant changes to their potato-based offerings. In a public statement, the management explained, "Due to a nationwide shortage of potatoes, you may notice limited availability or changes to our usual potato offerings. We understand this may be an inconvenience, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this issue with our suppliers." But what exactly is happening? Are we facing a genuine potato shortage? Agricultural economist, Wandile Sihlobo, confirmed to IOL that South Africans don't have anything to worry about. "There is no shortage of potatoes in South Africa. Our supplies are healthy," said Sihlobo, adding that Potatoes SA agrees with the view. According to the latest statistics, potato stocks in various fresh produce markets indicate it's still in good shape.
